Background information

The COVID Spa programme supports Czech spas, which have been badly damaged by the anti COVID-19 measures and the sharp decline in tourism sector (with the lost of 180,000–200,000 clients per year in Czech spas).

Thus the Government of the Czech Republic will be delivering CZK 1,000,000,000 (€37,481,260 approx.) in the form of vouchers worth CZK 4,000 (€150) per person (250,000 vouchers are available in total).

Content of measure

Eligible for the vouchers for accommodation in spa are:

• people over 18 years with the Czech citizenship or with the permanent residence in Czechia, who are also covered by Czech public health insurance (i.e. those who pay public health insurance),
• those who spend at least six nights at a Czech spa and have at least five spa procedures at the spa hotel from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020.

People, who are interested in getting voucher, are required to register online via special website . The website generates a unique code and the guest will receive a discount immediately.

Use of measure

As of 2 October 2020, 147,000 vouchers have been downloaded, from which 25% approx. have been used by tourists. [Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic] (http://www.mmr.cz) has spent about CZK 1,800,000 (€66,593 approx.) on this programme.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Sector specific set of companies	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	Companies National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners, which are members of the tripartite body (Council of economic and social agreement, Rada hospodářské a sociální dohody, RHSD) were informed and consulted in both formal (requested by institutional settings) and informal ways. They are not involved in the management of policy measures.

Views and reactions

Supportive.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 29 July 2020: MMR: COVID Spa programme/MMR: COVID Lázně program (www.mmr.cz)
• 02 October 2020: MMR Press release: We have sent 1,8 mil. CZK to Czech spas/Tisková zpráva MMR: Prvním osmi lázeňským zařízením jsme poslali z programu COVID Lázně 1,8 milionu korun (www.mmr.cz)